Ducks in 7
At the start of the season the Ducks were the trendy pick to win the Stanley
Cup with both television and written prognosticators, they were supposed to be
here, the Senators were not. Last year in fact was supposed to be the Senators
year, before Dominick Hasek was injured during the Olympics, and the Senators
had their seemingly annual postseason fade. This year that fade has not come as
the Senators have been nearly flawless in the playoffs with dominating five game
series victories over the up and coming Penguins, the veteran cup tested Devils,
and the Sabres who won the President's Trophy. Leading the Senators in to
the final has been their top line led by Captain Daniel Alfredsson as they have
been red hot, even making Martin Brodeur look average. The Ducks have arrived
here on defense as Scott Niedermayer and Chris Pronger are both Norris Trophy
Finalist, while Goalie Jean-Sebastien Giguere is quickly becoming one of the best
playoff goalies in the NHL. On talent alone the Ducks seem to have the upper
hand as it would be hard to imagine the Ducks losing a short series. However,
the Senators are red hot, and getting great play from their own Goalie Ray Emery,
but the Senators momentum could have already been stopped, as by the time the
Finals start it would have been nine days since the Senators beat the Sabres
in overtime. While the Ducks themselves have been off six games momentum is not
as great as worry for them, as their talent is more on the defensive side, as
opposed to the groove the Senators offense was in. Game 1 could be very telling
either way as if the Senators offense is still clicking and able to draw first
blood in Anaheim, the cup could be on its way to Canada's Capital City, but if
the Senators are rusty and out of sync it could be a quick series in favor of
the Ducks. In the end look for the Ducks to get the jump, but the Senators to be
rejuvenated at home, in the end home ice will be the difference, as this series
goes seven games with the Stanley Cup calling Southern California home for the
summer.